Amid concerns about “fraudulent” international student applications and high dropout rates, former Conservative universities minister Lord Jo Johnson has issued a warning to UK universities. Johnson emphasizes that the higher education sector must take immediate action to address this issue, or it could face a backlash in Westminster.
The Tolerance Limit Reached
Lord Jo Johnson expressed his concerns during a conference on international student recruitment, organized by Universities UK, a sector lobby group representing over 140 universities. He believes that the tolerance for an ever-increasing number of international students has reached its political limits. Many international students either drop out of their courses or lack sufficient means to support themselves, prompting the need for corrective action.
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Balancing the Economic Benefits
UK universities have increasingly relied on attracting higher-paying international students to financially support domestic students. International fees now contribute to nearly 20 percent of universities’ income, a significant increase from just over a decade ago. For example, Nigerians were reported to have spent over a billion dollars in 2022 alone to study in the UK. Despite international students delivering approximately £42 billion in economic benefits to the UK during the 2021-22 academic year (a £10 billion increase from 2018-19), Johnson warns that concerns about universities focusing on “selling immigration into the UK rather than education” could overshadow the sector’s positive economic contributions.
Addressing Poor Quality and Fraudulent Applications
Lord Jo Johnson called upon universities to take “collective action to weed out poor quality and fraudulent applications.” He pointed to the “entirely unacceptable” dropout rates among Indian and Bangladeshi students, which are approaching 25 percent and damaging the sector’s reputation.
Visa Changes Impacting Recruitment
Last May, the UK government implemented restrictions on international students, including removing the right of master’s students to bring family members and closing a loophole that allowed students to switch to skilled worker visas midway through their courses. A survey of international students by IDP Connect revealed that these visa changes were affecting recruitment. While the UK remains popular, it has fallen behind Australia and Canada as the most sought-after destination for international students. The uncertainty surrounding graduate visas in the UK is a significant consideration for prospective students.
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Financial Impact on Universities
Several senior leaders at top-tier UK universities disclosed that they had seen a significant reduction in international students taking up confirmed places, even after paying their deposits. This shortfall has had a notable financial impact on university budgets.
Challenges Ahead
Lord Jo Johnson, who also chairs FutureLearn, a global digital learning platform, urged the sector to reduce its reliance on Chinese and Indian students while focusing on improving educational quality, acknowledging that this combination presents challenges.
To address fraudulent or underfunded applications, Johnson suggested measures such as charging application fees, requiring upfront tuition fee payments, and following Canada’s example of requiring students to deposit annual living expenses in escrow upon arrival.
Maintaining Confidence in the System
Vivienne Stern, the head of Universities UK, stressed the significant economic benefits that international students bring to the UK. She acknowledged that failing to maintain a robust recruitment system could prompt further government crackdowns. Universities UK’s top priority is ensuring the continuation of the graduate route, and they are willing to collaborate with the government to uphold confidence in the system.
In conclusion, the urgent call for UK universities to address “fraudulent” international student applications underscores the importance of maintaining the sector’s reputation and economic contributions while dealing with challenges related to dropout rates and visa changes. It is a call to action for universities to strike a balance between attracting international students and upholding educational quality.
